Hagerty golfer to spend upcoming school year studying in Germany

Then again, the Hagerty rising junior golfer hadn't planned to find a flier about a German exchange program three weeks before the application was due. A Hawaii native whose family moved to Oviedo 14 years ago, Benedict found out about the program at her school's College and Career Room with one of her two older sisters.

"I picked up a flier and took it home, threw it on my bed and didn't think about it," Benedict said. "Three weeks later, I was cleaning my room, and I saw it.

"I'd always wanted to study abroad, but I thought the programs were too expensive. I realized that it was a full scholarship and decided to apply."

The program sends students on a full scholarship exceeding $10,000 to live with a host family for a year. Benedict will spend the 2012-13 school year in Germany and leave July 25.

"I'm going to be a junior ambassador, strengthening ties between Germany and the United States and disproving the typical American stereotype," Benedict said. "I'm trying to show Germans what America's really all about."

Benedict has been on Hagerty's varsity golf team for two years and holds the fifth spot on the Huskies' team. The golf team won its district two years in a row under coach Tod Benedict, Jaime's father.

"If my host family plays golf, I would, but I want to get involved with whatever my host family does," Jaime Benedict said. "I'm leaving all my equipment here, but I'll ask my parents to ship all my golf stuff."

Abigail Lacaillade, Benedict's friend of six years, was the first classmate to find out about her acceptance into the program.

"I was really surprised that she was going to follow through with it," Lacaillade said. "I think the first days are going to be difficult for her, especially because of the language barrier."

The program requires host families to speak German exclusively to their American guests, forcing them to pick up on the language after an intense three-week language camp.

"I've been using YouTube videos to learn German for a yearbook self-improvement project," Benedict said. "I can say, 'Where is Berlin?' but that's about it."

Benedict's parents, who are science professors at Seminole State College, have helped Jaime plan her academic courses for her return.

"None of my German classes count for academic credit here," Benedict said. "I'm currently doing virtual school to get ahead, and my senior year, I'll be doing dual enrollment.

"My parents have been really supportive and helpful. They're ecstatic that I'm going."

For Benedict and her family, the most difficult part of her year abroad will be spending it apart.

"We don't know if it's going to be the same closeness by the time she comes back," said Kaily Benedict, Jaime's sister. "That's scary. I'm worried about not being able to relate with her."

Said Benedict: "I'm going to miss a whole year of their lives. Nothing is going to be the same."